Over the next few weeks, Maya got settled back into work. Her anxiety was still higher than normal, but she found that with each passing day, her energy was increasing more and more. It honestly shocked both her and Carina when about two weeks after she went back to work, she went an entire day without napping. It confused both of them because Maya had been so dependent on her naps to make it through the days and they assumed it would continue or even get worse once she went back to work but instead, things seemed to be getting better. Carina had been talking about it with people at work, specifically Teddy and Andrea one day at lunch.
"Has Maya had her covid shots yet?" Teddy asked from her place at one table, the three of them all still participating in the social distances the hospital asked them to.
"She got her first one the week before she went back to work," Carina said, nodding, "She's due for her second one next week."
"That could be why she's feeling better," Teddy said, "I was just reading an article this morning about people with long Covid who are reporting symptom reduction post-vaccine. It doesn't happen for everyone and it's not like a magical cure, but it is something that people have been reporting. There's obviously not enough data to know if it's permanent or what will happen long term, but yeah, it could be the vaccine."
"That is wild," Andrew said, "Can you send me the article? I want to read it."
"Me too," Carina said, "And share it with Maya. She had a horrible time after the vaccine and I was worried it was going to make her sicker again, but it would be amazing if it actually helped. I hope they continue doing research on it."
"Did Maya think about getting in any clinical trials?" Teddy asked, "I mean, Grey Sloan has some she would probably qualify for."
"We talked about it a little bit," Carina said, "But when we initially talked about it, she had been so tired and struggling a lot with her anxiety and she didn't really feel like coming down here and being poked and prodded."
"They have some that are just questionnaires," Andrew said, "And some she could probably join now."
"I'll bring it up to her again," Carina said, "She's doing a lot better now too so she probably wouldn't be opposed to it."
"And she had a lot of complications too," Andrew said, "She's still not gotten her taste and smell back right?"
"Not really," Carina sighed, "She is starting to be able to smell but not correctly and so far, she has been able to taste was tomato soup which she said tasted like blood and almost made her sick and a few other foods, but all of them have tasted terrible so instead of her eating more as her taste comes back, it's actually limiting her diet more."
"I know there is a trial that is starting soon about ways to get back taste and smell," Andrew said, " It might even start this week. Maya would probably qualify for it. And it would have the added bonus of maybe letting her taste and smell again."
"Which would help a lot of other things," Carina said, "Right now, eating is probably her biggest barrier. She is barely hitting her daily caloric minimum most days because food just doesn't taste good. I mean, eating has never been something that has been her favorite thing, but it's worse now."
"Yeah, check out that trial," Andrew said, "I mean, no guarantees she gets into the experimental group, but it's better than nothing."
"I will talk to her about it," Carina said, "Grazie."
"We are all rooting for her to make a full recovery," Teddy said, "I mean, I root for all my patients to make a full recovery, but Maya especially."
"I mean, same," Carina said, earning a laugh from both her friend and brother.
They finished lunch before the three of them headed back to work, all of them grateful they were able to start doing lunches together again.
A few days later, Maya had an appointment with Maggie for her three month follow up for her pulmonary embolism which was nerve wracking for both Maya and Carina. The night before the appointment, both of them were struggling, Maya terrified that she was going to end up stuck on blood thinners forever which would take her right out of firefighting and Carina scared Maya was going to have more clots or something worse going on which Maya was also afraid of.
They had talked about Maya joining a clinical trial and decided to try to get her enrolled in one when they went the following day. Carina had asked around and found out more about the one Andrew had told her about, Maya deciding that one sounded like one she would be interested in. She had read about a few other ones online, but none of them really sounded like anything she would be interested in or qualify for. She hoped that she would get into the one to help her get back her taste and smell. As much as Maya didn't really care about eating most of the time, she knew the only way she was going to build her strength up more was to get her muscles back was if she was feeding them.
Over the past few days, she had been able to taste the chicken Carina had made for them for dinner, but unfortunately, instead of tasting good like she was hoping, it tasted rotten and had her feeling sick the rest of the day. It wasn't rotten at all, but her taste buds were just not doing what they should have been. She hoped that would change with this trial. She had applied online and had gotten an email back that they wanted to do some more testing on her when she came to the hospital the following day.
Now though, she was more focused on her appointment with Maggie.
"So I just need the CT scan, right?" Maya said, biting her lip, "And I'll take Benadryl and the Zofran you picked up yesterday before we leave for the hospital? Not the other scan that I had last time?"
"Correct," Carina said, nodding, "And those meds are just a precaution because you reacted to a type of contrast last time. But if they aren't enough, the hospital will have more meds available. And if you feel bad after, we will come home and cuddle the rest of the day, ok?"
"Even if I don't feel terrible, I think I might have to come home and sleep after because I don't think I am going to get much sleep tonight. I really hope she lets me start decreasing my doses," Maya sighed as she rolled over in bed again for the millionth time, "I really want to be able to go back to work fully when my body is ready and have to wait to be off blood thinners."
"I think you are still a little while off from being back at work full time," Carina said, really not wanting to think about the day that happened, "I mean, you are still only working 4-hour days."
"I know," Maya said, "But I was thinking about maybe trying to bump up to 8-hour days maybe next week or the week after."
"Already?" Carina said, "It feels like you just went back to work."
"I mean, I did," Maya said, "It's only been two and a half weeks, but also, I am feeling so much better. And I read that article Andrew sent you and I really think there is something to the vaccines helping because I truly am feeling better."
"I know," Carina said, "I know you are and I want you to be able to go back more. It just makes me nervous."
"It makes me nervous too," Maya said, "But I need to try. If it doesn't go well, I will scale back again. But I need to try. I can't stay at home forever."
"I know," Carina sighed, "I know you do. I just don't want to undo any of the progress you have made."
"I don't either," Maya said, "I really don't. But I haven't taken a nap in four days. How about we see how things go over the next few days? I get my next vaccine in a few days and I am anticipating being knocked around by that a bit so after I recover from that, maybe we can talk about me going back for 8-hour shifts?"
"I think that is a good idea," Carina nodded, "Now, we need to get you some sleep tonight. How can I help make that happen?"
"I don't know," Maya sighed, "Maybe I'll just go sleep on the couch. That way you can sleep because it's not fair for me to keep you up all night too."
"Nope," Carina said, "None of that. I don't work tomorrow and we are in this together. So I am going to ask you again, how can I help you sleep? Do you want to go take another shower? Or have me give you a massage?"
"Can…I…never mind," Maya said, shaking her head.
"What?" Carina said, noticing how Maya looked away from her, "You can tell me whatever you're thinking Bambina."
"I know we haven't done anything recently, or really for months, but do you think maybe…maybe we could try and see how sex goes again?" Maya asked quietly, biting her lip, "But we don't have to if you aren't ready or if it makes you uncomfortable because my body has changed a lot or…"
Before Maya could even finish her thought, Carina had flipped on top of her and had her lips on her girlfriend's lips, kissing her passionately as she started pulling at her t-shirt.
"Bambina, I have been waiting for you to be ready," Carina said, removing her lips from Maya's for a moment, "Don't get me wrong, I have been fine waiting as long as you needed, but I am beyond ready."
Maya laughed as Carina pulled on her shirt, the blonde letting her girlfriend take it off before she reached for the Italian's tank top, also pulling it off, her hands immediately going to her girlfriend's boobs for a moment before moving them, biting her lip as she felt Carina's hands heading for the waist band of her boxer shorts.
"Is this ok?" Carina asked, playing with the elastic on Maya's boxers as the blonde gave her a nod, smiling at Carina.
"I almost want to say no because I am embarrassed by how absolutely soaking wet I am at the moment," Maya said as she lifted her hips a bit to allow Carina to pull down her underwear, the Italian's eyes darkening a bit as she licked her lips at what Maya had for her.
"So beautiful," Carina said, moving her hand to Maya's clit, "All for me Bambina?"
"Carina, I am about five seconds away from coming" Maya said, feeling her back arching a bit as her hips bucked, "Please hurry ok?"
"Can't wait Bambina?" Carina said as she felt Maya moving against her hand, clearly trying to get relief, "Ok. I won't make you wait this time because you have been waiting so long already."
Carina decided she needed to taste her girlfriend after this long, replacing her hand with her tongue on Maya's clit, carefully slipping two fingers into Maya as she did so, feeling the blonde clench immediately as she let out a moan. Carina felt her own orgasm building rapidly, forcing herself to wait for now, knowing Maya would want a turn to please her during this encounter and she wanted to let her be the first one to do that tonight, knowing that was something that was very important to Maya.
Carina helped Maya ride out her orgasm before carefully removing her fingers, kissing Maya's clit one more time before moving a bit so she could see the blonde's face which was fully blissed out at the moment.
"Ok Bambina?" Carina asked, moving up the bed a bit next to her girlfriend.
"Yeah," Maya said, looking at her with hooded eyes, "So good. Come here."
Carina did as she was told, smiling as she felt Maya's lips on her own, moaning as she felt the blonde's hands go into her panties, giving a tiny nod when Maya pulled back just a bit, searching for her consent.
"Oh, you are also very wet," Maya said, moving her lips to the pulse point on Carina's neck.
"Si," Carina said, "I almost orgasmed when you did."
"Thank you for waiting," Maya said, fingers finding their target quickly, "I have missed being able to do this for you."
"Maya," Carina moaned as the blonde expertly moved her fingers, pushing her over the edge as she lost herself in an orgasm.
"Good babe," Maya said, smiling as Carina's head tipped back, the blonde using her mouth to add a bit of nipple stimulation into the equation, knowing it was something that drove Carina crazy. Maya felt Carina reaching for her, grabbing her hair and pulling it a little as she lost herself in the orgasm. Maya smiled as she looked up at Carina's face, feeling like she was finally reclaiming another important part of her life pre-covid in this moment.
"That was so much better than my little purple friend in the shower," Carina said as she came back to herself, Maya carefully pulling her fingers out, putting them in her mouth for a minute, a bit disappointed that like everything else, she was unable to taste one of her favorite things in the entire world, pushing those thoughts out of her head for the time being as she moved back up next to Carina, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend.
That hadn't been the most adventurous or wild sex they had ever had, not even in the top ten, but it felt so incredibly special to both of them and Carina felt tears welling up in her eyes as she laid there in Maya's arms.
"Hey," the blonde said, feeling the hot tears on her chest, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Carina said shaking her head, "Nothing is wrong. I just…Part of me was so scared we would never get to do this again. I…it's just bringing up all the feelings I had when you were in the hospital and not doing well and I didn't know if I would ever even get to kiss you again and…it's stupid. I'm sorry. I'm ruining the moment."
"No," Maya said, pulling her closer, "No. We don't apologize for our feelings in this house, remember? I'm pretty sure that is your rule. I am feeling pretty emotional right now too. I…this makes me feel like I might actually be getting back to myself again. I mean, I still can't taste you which feels like some kind of cruel and unusual punishment, but the fact that my body has healed enough to have the energy for this? It feels like a big step forward. Thank you for waiting for me to get back to this point. Sorry it couldn't be more like our sex life before I got sick."
"No apologies," Carina said, shaking her head as she dried her tears, "That was so good. It was exactly what I needed tonight. I am not upset in the slightest, ok? So don't even think that. We will find our way back to how things were before, but I am so happy right now ok?"
"So am I," Maya said, pressing a kiss to the top of Carina's head.
They laid there for another minute before getting up to go take a shower, Maya insisting on washing Carina's body gently, something she often did after their time together.
"Thank you for letting me do that," Maya said as she finished with the washcloth, pressing a kiss to Carina's lips, "I…being strong enough to take care of you like that makes me feel human again in a way I didn't know I needed. Thank you."
"Bambina, I love when you take care of me," Carina said, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend, "And as much as I was willing to wait and still am willing to wait as long as you need to completely heal, I am very happy that we are slowly getting back to us."
"Me too," Maya said, smiling at Carina before letting out a big yawn, "Sorry."
"Hey, the whole goal tonight was to get you sleepy enough to be able to get some rest," Carina said, reaching to turn off the water.
"That's true," Maya said, reaching for their towels, "I don't know if I'll sleep, but I'm going to try."
"Good," Carina said. The two of them got ready for bed for the second time that night before climbing into bed together.
"I love you," Maya said, looking at Carina who was currently holding her.
"I love you too Bambina," Carina said, pressing a kiss to her lips, "Now, let's try to sleep ok?"
Maya nodded, snuggling close to Carina as she relaxed into her girlfriend's embrace, trying hard not to think about her fears about the following day.
Sleep did not go well that night for Maya, the blonde falling asleep quickly after they got into bed but woke up within an hour to anxious thoughts. She tried not to move, still wrapped in Carina's arms, not wanting to wake her girlfriend. She was glad when less than twenty minutes after she woke up, Carina rolled over a little bit, allowing Maya to get out of her embrace.
She grabbed her phone, silently groaning when she saw it wasn't even midnight yet. She had no idea what she was going to do, but she knew she needed to try to let Carina sleep so she slipped out of bed, going into the living room.
Vic was at work tonight so she didn't have to worry about waking up their other roommate. She had brought her phone with her and also her laptop, deciding to look more into the study she had applied for that she would get some more testing done for tomorrow. She wasn't sure if she would even get in, but she wanted to at least try.
The better she felt, the more she wanted to get back to 100% and that required her to be able to eat without food tasting like nothing or tasting so bad it made her feel sick. She knew there was a chance it would just come back on its own, and she also knew the research wasn't a guarantee that she would get better, but it was better than nothing. She was still working with her physical therapist twice a week to get her strength back, though they were talking about reducing the number of sessions only because Maya was doing so much better and likely didn't need as much support from PT as she could craft her own workouts. But she still wanted to have some sessions to make sure she was optimizing her physical recovery.
Diane was also having weekly sessions with her which were helping a lot of the post-ICU trauma she had faced and while Maya wasn't convinced all of it would ever fully go away, on a day-to-day basis, her anxiety was getting better. There were aspects of being at work that were still really hard which Maya had yet to fully sort out why, but she was working on it. And she was hopefully that going back to work for longer stretches of time would help. She knew that it would also likely exhaust her mentally and physically just like going back initially had, but she was ready for it.
She was lost in her thoughts and missed the footsteps approaching her, jumping out of her skin when she heard a quiet "Maya?" from right next to her. "
Sorry Bambina," Carina said, sitting down next to her, wrapped up in a blanket, "What are you doing out here?"
"I couldn't sleep," Maya said, biting her lip, "I mean, I did for like an hour, but I work up and my brain is racing and I just…I wanted you to be able to sleep so I came out here. Sorry if I woke you up."
"You didn't," Carina said, "But I woke up and the bed was cold and I am not used to sleeping alone."
"I know," Maya said, opening her arms as Carina leaned into them, "I'm sorry. I wanted you to sleep."
"I want you to sleep too," Carina said, "You need rest."
"I know," Maya said, "This appointment just makes me anxious and I can't figure out how to make my brain turn off. Between the scan which makes me worried that I will feel awful like I did last time and not knowing what is going to happen, it's all just a lot."
"So we will sit here together, or back in bed if that is better, and we will just be," Carina said, looking up at Maya, "Just like I said before, you aren't alone in this. I know all of this is a lot and scary for you. It is for me too. And if it's too much to sleep, we don't have to."
"Can we go back into the bedroom?" Maya asked, that part of the house having become a safe haven for her since she had been sick. It was quiet and she felt more in control and it just felt like her safest place outside of Carina's arms.
"Of course," Carina said, standing up, pulling Maya with her, "You go get comfy and I am going to make us some tea, ok?"
"Sounds good," Maya said, nodding as she gave Carina a small kiss.
Carina went into the kitchen, starting the tea kettle with a sigh. She wished this was easier. She wished they both weren't dealing with all these repercussions of Maya's illness still. She wished life could have just gone back to normal for both of them. But that just wasn't their reality at this point. She hoped it would be one day, that one day they would be able to put all of this trauma behind them and move on. She knew this would always be a part of them, but she hoped one day it would just be a part of their past and not in their everyday life.
The water boiled, Carina grabbing the kettle and pouring the hot water into each of the mugs, adding the chamomile tea bags. Maya couldn't taste the tea which was really the only reason she would drink it because she normally called tea dirty leaf water unless she was very sick. But she did like the warmth of it. Carina carried the mugs into the bedroom, finding Maya in bed with her weighted blanket which didn't surprise Carina at all.
"Ok," Carina said, handing Maya her mug of tea before getting into bed, "Should we listen to a book or podcast or some music? Or should we talk? Or just sit in silence? What sounds the least overwhelming to you right now?"
"Maybe music?" Maya said, looking at her girlfriend, "Something instrumental?"
"Of course," Carina said, grabbing her phone and putting on a calming playlist that had become a staple for them in recent months.
Maya laid her head on Carina's shoulder as they sat there, the Italian wrapping her arm around her girlfriend and playing with her hair as she held her close.
"You know I will still love you and be with you no matter what the outcome is tomorrow, right?" Carina said after a little while, feeling Maya fidgeting next to her, "No matter what, I am right here with you, forever."
Maya was quiet and Carina almost wondered if she had fallen asleep until she felt something hit her arm, looking and seeing a drop of wetness, quickly turning her attention to Maya who had tears running down her cheeks.
"Hey," Carina said, pulling Maya close, "Hey, it's ok. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry."
"I…I just…I knew what you just said was true," Maya said through hiccupping tears, "I just…I don't know. Hearing you say it made me feel really emotional."
"That's ok," Carina said, pressing a kiss to Maya's temple, "I promise you it is 100% true, ok? I am not going anywhere so I don't want that to be a part of your anxiety. You are stuck with me, ok?"
Maya nodded, clinging onto Carina.
"Thank you for being here for me this whole time," Maya said, looking up at Carina with tears on her cheeks, "I know it's been hard."
"The circumstances have been hard, si," Carina said, nodding, "But loving you? That has been so easy."
"For me too," Maya said, "Love you has kept me going through all of this. Because I can't imagine not being able to be here to love you."
At this, Carina felt her own tears starting, the two of them just holding each other tightly, the need to just be close to each other as they comforted each other.
The rest of the night was in and out of sleep for both of them, neither of them getting more than two hours of broken sleep all night which was made for two very exhausted women getting ready for Maya's appointments.
Carina made them both a strong cup of coffee, hoping it would help, adding soy milk to Maya's, something they had started doing since Maya started drinking coffee again in an attempt to get more calories and protein into the blonde. They had initially tried to use heavy cream because that had more calories but it had made Maya's stomach so upset that they abandon that after trying it twice with the same results both times.
They both managed to get down a little bit of breakfast, neither of them having much of an appetite, but both of them knowing they needed to eat. Getting ready for the appointment felt a little like they were both dragging their feet through molasses, Carina making sure Maya took her premeds before they headed out the door. Somehow they made it out the door on time and headed to the hospital.
"I really hope we get good news at this appointment," Maya said, her leg bouncing up and down as she drove them to the hospital, having taken back over her role as primary driver when they were together as she started feeling better.
"Me too," Carina said, reaching over and grabbing her girlfriend's hand, "But even if we don't, we will get through it ok?"
"I know," Maya said, giving Carina as much of a smile as she could.
They pulled up to the hospital, Maya beyond happy that most of the tents that had been covering parts of the Grey Sloan grounds had been slowly dismantled aside from a covid testing tent that was still in use along with a vaccine tent that was busy all the time.
They headed inside, masks on their faces as they first headed to lab to get Maya's blood drawn, Carina holding her girlfriend's hand tightly the whole time because she could tell the blonde was anxious. They had been at the hospital once a week getting Maya's labs draw because of the meds she was on, but this time felt different for some reason.
Once that was done, they headed to imaging. Maya changed into a gown and hospital pants before getting her IV placed and having the contrast administered.
"If you start feeling bad, just let me know right away," the CT tech said, "I am going to have you wait here for just about ten minutes to make sure the contrast gets to where it needs to go and then we will start the scans."
"Thank you," Maya said, nodding as the tech left the room.
"Are you doing ok?" Carina asked, rubbing Maya's back as she sat in the chair waiting for her scan.
"I think so," Maya said, "I don't feel great, but I can't tell if it's nerves or the meds or something else."
"Hopefully you don't have to do this too many more times," Carina said, "And hopefully the meds help enough that you don't feel too bad."
"I think the Benadryl is also making me a little tired," Maya said, yawning a little bit, "Can we just nap all afternoon?"
"Si," Carina said, "I think that sounds like a very good plan. I am also tired."
They just sat there together for the next few minutes, Maya trying to decide if the nausea she was feeling was because of the contrast or her anxiety, but she decided not to say anything. After a little bit, she was taken into the machine, Carina waiting in the room she had been in with Maya, happy the scan only took a few minutes.
Soon enough, Maya was coming back into the room to get changed again, Carina immediately noticing Maya looked pale and also like she had some hives starting.
"Bambina, are you doing ok?" Carina asked as she saw Maya itching her arm.
"I don't feel good," Maya said, pulling her mask off, "I think I might be sick."
"Ok," Carina said, sitting her down quickly, grabbing a blue bag Maya had been given when they came back, pressing the button for the tech, "If you have to throw up, it's ok."
"I'm also itchy," Maya said, sitting with her head in her hands, "I hate this."
"I know," Carina said gathering Maya's hair with one hand, holding it back just in case, "We will get you some cream. Your throat feels ok? Not itchy or closing or anything?"
"No," Maya said, taking a deep breath. Just then, the tech popped her head in the room.
"What's going on?" she asked, seeing how awful Maya was looking, "Oh, not feeling well?"
"No," Carina said, "She is nauseous and she's breaking out in hives. Can we please get some Compazine and a topical hydrocortisone please?"
"I have it on call," the tech said, "I'll go grab a nurse and have them give it."
Carina felt Maya tense a little, the Italian holding the blue bag near Maya's face, the blonde grabbing it and holding it to her mouth as Carina continued to hold her hair and rub her back.
"Just let it happen if you need to Bambina," Carina said gently, "You're ok."
Maya gagged a little, not bringing anything up, spitting into the bag as she groaned, scratching at her arm.
"Can we never do this again?" Maya asked, looking up at Carina with eyes that broke her heart.
"We won't," Carina said, still holding Maya's hair because her girlfriend genuinely looked green but she moved her other hand to her face, brushing a tear off her cheek, "I will tell Maggie no more ok?"
Maya nodded, sniffling a little bit as she turned her head back to the bag in her hands. A nurse came in a few minutes later, giving Maya some IV Compazine before handing the cream to Carina who helped Maya put it on her hives.
Luckily, the meds kicked in fast enough that Maya didn't actually get sick, Carina helping her get changed back into her clothes, finding a hair tie in her purse, using it to quickly tie Maya's hair up in a messy bun just in case.
"Are you ready to go talk to Dr. Pierce?" Carina asked, pressing a kiss to Maya's forehead.
"Yeah," Maya said, leaning her head on Carina's shoulder for a minute, "I am so tired."
"That was a lot," Carina said, holding her close, "Remember, we are going to spend all afternoon resting, ok? We just have to get through the next hour or so."
Maya nodded, just letting herself rest for one more second in Carina's embrace before they both pulled their masks back on and headed up to the cardiology floor. They got there and got checked in, getting taken into a room quickly where Maya's vitals were taken before they were left alone to wait.
"How is the itching?" Carina asked, seeing the angry looking hives that had spread to both of Maya's arms and also a little bit on her neck and face.
"It's ok," Maya shrugged, biting her lip under her mask.
"How is the nausea?" Carina asked, jumping up on the table next to Maya, wrapping an arm around her.
"I don't think I'm going to throw up," Maya said, playing with the rim of the blue bag in her hands, "But also, I feel really anxious which isn't helping."
"Hey," Carina said, putting a hand on one of Maya's cheeks, "Look at me. Let's take some deep breaths ok? Whatever happens is going to be ok alright?"
Maya nodded, following Carina through a breathing exercise which they finished just as there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," Maya called, holding tightly to Carina's hand, feeling the Italian give her three solid squeezes back.
"Maya, Carina," Maggie said, walking in, "Hi. How are we doing today?"
"I don't want any more CTs with contrast," Maya said immediately.
"Oh, ok," Maggie said, "Did something happen?"
"She had another bad reaction to the contrast," Carina said, stroking the back of Maya's hand with her thumb, "As you can see, more hives and she was very nauseous. Even with us premedicating her at home."
"I'm sorry Maya," Maggie said, tapping on her tablet, "We won't do any more CTs with contrast. I promise. Partly because of the reactions but also because this last one was clear and your pulmonary emboli are all gone."
"Wait, what?" Maya said, head shooting off where it had been resting on Carina's shoulder, "Seriously?"
"Yes," Maggie said, "All of them are gone. I am really impressed. Sometimes it can take years for PEs to fully clear up, but yours are all gone. And because of that, instead of going through a weaning process with your blood thinners, you can just stop taking them."
"Really?" Maya said, not believing what she was hearing, "I…I can just be done? And that will be ok?"
"It will," Maggie said, nodding, "Or it should be. We will still be monitoring you for any signs of a PE and if anything starts to feel off, I want you back in the ER immediately, but you are good Maya. I want one more blood test on you next week just to make sure your INR has normalized, but you are done with the blood thinners and as long as your INR goes back to normal, you are cleared medically by me to return to all normal activities, obviously as your body allows because I know you are still working with PT to build your body back up."
"I really get to be done with the blood thinners?" Maya said, feeling tears welling up in her eyes.
"You do," Maggie said, placing a hand on Maya's shoulder, "And hopefully, this part of your recovery is behind you."
"I…I almost can't believe it," Maya said, her voice cracking as the tears started rolling down her cheeks. "It's real Bambina," Carina said, pulling Maya into a hug, "You did it."
"Like I said, I want to see you back one more time in three more months just to make sure you are still doing well," Maggie said, "But you are doing really well Maya."
"Thank you," Maya said, looking at Maggie as she wiped her cheeks with her sleeve, "I…thank you."
"Of course," Maggie said, "I'm really happy for you. I know that this road had been really long and that you are nowhere near the end of it yet, but I am really happy to see things getting better. It's not that often I see patients I saw in the Covid ICU again and even less often I see them doing as well as you."
"I have a long way to go still," Maya said, sniffling a little bit.
"I know," Maggie said, "But I also have no doubt you will get there. Now, I am sure you are exhausted from today so go home and get some rest, ok?"
"Thank you," Maya said, smiling under her mask.
"Of course," Maggie said, "See you here in a few months. And Carina, see you around."
"Ciao," Carina called as Maggie left the room.
"I can't believe I get to be off my blood thinners," Maya said, pulling down her mask as Carina handed her a tissue to wipe her nose, "I…I saw this appointment going so many ways, but being totally done was not on that list."
"I know," Carina said, brushing a stray piece of hair off Maya's face, "But you are done. Now, should we go talk to the clinical trial people and then go home?"
"Yes please," Maya said, blowing her nose before washing her hands in the sink, pulling her mask back on. Carina wiped one more stray tear from the blonde's cheek before taking her hand and guiding her out of the room.
They found the area for the clinical trials pretty easily, Carina knowing vaguely where it was. There, they took more of Maya's blood, though this person was not nearly as gentle as the one earlier or the CT tech who put in the IV and Maya had to bite her lip and squeeze Carina's hand hard in order to not yell from the pain. Carina rubbed her back through it, pressing a masked kiss to the top of Maya's head once the tech was done.
Maya was then given a few simple tests to see if she could smell or taste anything before she was let go and told they would call her within a week to let her know if she had been accepted into the trial or not. After that, they left the hospital, Carina looking at Maya who was rubbing her arm.
"Are you itchy?" Carina asked, "I have the cream in my purse. We can put more on when we get home if you need it."
"No," Maya said, shaking her head, "I mean, yes, I am itchy, but that blood draw really really hurt. I feel like the needle is still in my arm."
"It's not, I promise," Carina said, "But I am sorry it was so bad. I can get you an ice pack when we get home."
"Can you drive home?" Maya asked, "I feel really out of it after everything today and I probably shouldn't drive."
"Of course," Carina said, taking the keys, "I'm sorry you are feeling so rough. We can go spend the rest of the day in bed, ok?"
Maya nodded, getting in the car.
"Did you want to stop anywhere on the way home?" Carina asked, "Do you want a smoothie or some ice cream or something as a little treat?"
"I still feel pretty nauseous," Maya said, shaking her head, "Not like going to be sick nauseous, but the thought of eating anything makes me feel even worse."
"My poor Bambina," Carina frowned, "Ok, home and into comfy clothes and then straight to bed with lots of cuddles."
"That sounds absolutely perfect," Maya said, offering Carina a tired smile as they started driving, "Thank you for being there with me for all of this today. I'm sure there were other things you would have liked to have been doing with your day off."
"Bambina, no," Carina said, "Absolutely not. What could possibly have been a better use of my time than supporting my girlfriend and finding out she has kicked yet another part of Covid's ass? Being with you is the only place I wanted and needed to be today."
"I really love you; you know that?" Maya said, leaning over the center console as they stopped at a red light, giving Carina a gentle kiss.
"I really love you too," Carina said, kissing her back before the car behind them honked because apparently, the light was now green, the two of them heading back home, feeling one big step closer to the end of this long journey.